Government of the 17th Dáil

Irish government from 1961 to 1965

10th government of Ireland

Government of Ireland
Date formed| 11 October 1961
Date dissolved| 21 April 1965
People and organisations
President| Éamon de Valera
Taoiseach| Seán Lemass
Tánaiste| Seán MacEntee
Total no. of members| 14
Member party| Fianna Fáil
Status in legislature| Minority government
Opposition party| Fine Gael
Opposition leader| James Dillon
History
Election| 1961 general election
Legislature terms|

* 17th Dáil
* 10th Seanad

Predecessor| 9th government
Successor| 11th government

The 10th government of Ireland (11 October 1961 – 21 April 1965) was the government of Ireland formed after the 1961 general election to the 17th Dáil held on 4 October 1961. It was a minority government formed by Fianna Fáil, which had been in office since the 1957 election. It was the first election it had won since Seán Lemass had succeeded Éamon de Valera as leader. It lasted for 3 years, 192 days.

## Nomination of Taoiseach

[edit]

The 17th Dáil first met on 11 October 1961. In the debate on the nomination of Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader and outgoing Taoiseach Seán Lemass, Fine Gael leader James Dillon, and Labour Party leader Brendan Corish were each proposed.[1] The nomination of Lemass was carried with 72 votes in favour and 68 against. Lemass was re-appointed as Taoiseach by President Éamon de Valera.[2]

11 October 1961
Nomination of Seán Lemass (FF) as Taoiseach[3]
Motion proposed by Seán MacEntee and seconded by James Ryan
Absolute majority: 73/144

Vote  | Parties  | Votes
Y Yes | Fianna Fáil (70), Independents (2) |

72 / 144

No | Fine Gael (47), Labour Party (15), Clann na Talmhan (2), National Progressive Democrats (2), Clann na Poblachta (1), Independent (1) |

68 / 144

Not voting | Ceann Comhairle (1), Independents (3) |

4 / 144

## Members of the government

[edit]

After his appointment as Taoiseach by the president, Seán Lemass proposed the members of the government and they were approved by the Dáil.[4] They were appointed by the president on 12 October 1961.[5]

Office  | Name  | Term

|
|

Taoiseach |  | Seán Lemass | 1961–1965
Tánaiste |  | Seán MacEntee | 1961–1965
Minister for Health
Minister for Agriculture |  | Paddy Smith | 1961–1964
Minister for Defence |  | Gerald Bartley | 1961–1965
Minister for Education |  | Patrick Hillery | 1961–1965
Minister for Finance |  | James Ryan | 1961–1965
Minister for External Affairs |  | Frank Aiken | 1961–1965
Minister for the Gaeltacht |  | Mícheál Ó Móráin | 1961–1965
Minister for Lands
Minister for Industry and Commerce |  | Jack Lynch | 1961–1965
Minister for Justice |  | Charles Haughey | 1961–1964
Minister for Local Government |  | Neil Blaney | 1961–1965
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs |  | Michael Hilliard | 1961–1965
Minister for Social Welfare |  | Kevin Boland | 1961–1965
Minister for Transport and Power |  | Erskine H. Childers | 1961–1965

### Changes 8 October 1964

[edit]

Paddy Smith resigned in disagreement at the government's response to certain farming issues.[6]

Office  | Name  | Term
Minister for Agriculture |  | Charles Haughey | 1964–1965
Minister for Justice |  | Seán Lemass | (acting)

### Changes 3 November 1964

[edit]

Appointment of new member of the government in place of Smith.[7][6]

Office  | Name  | Term
Minister for Justice |  | Brian Lenihan | 1964–1965

## Parliamentary Secretaries

[edit]

On 12 October 1961, the government appointed the Parliamentary Secretaries on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[5]

Name  | Office  | Term

|
|

| Joseph Brennan | Government Chief Whip
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | 1961–1965
| Donogh O'Malley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance | 1961–1965
| Brian Lenihan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice[8]
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands[9] | 1961–1964

### Change 21 October 1964

[edit]

Appointment of Brian Lenihan to government.[6]

Name  | Office  | Term
| George Colley | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands[10] | 1964–1965

## Confidence in the government

[edit]

On 30 October 1963, Brendan Corish, leader of the Labour Party, proposed a motion of no confidence in the government after its introduction of the turnover tax.[11] This motion was amended by the government as a motion of confidence, and approved by a vote of 73 to 69.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 October 1961. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
2. ^ "Appointment of Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 October 1961. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
3. ^ "Nomination of Taoiseach – Votes – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil) – Wednesday, 11 October 1961". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
4. ^ "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion of Approval – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 October 1961. Retrieved 15 February 2020.; "Nomination of Members of Government – Motion of Approval (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 October 1961. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
5. ^ a b "Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 16 November 1961. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
6. ^ a b c "Members of Government and Parliamentary Secretaries – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 3 November 1964. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
7. ^ "Nomination of Member to be Member of Government – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 3 November 1964. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
8. ^ Justice (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1964 (S.I. No. 248 of 1964). Signed on 13 October 1964. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
9. ^ Fisheries (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1961 (S.I. No. 258 of 1961). Signed on 14 November 1961. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; Fisheries (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1963 (S.I. No. 40 of 1963). Signed on 5 March 1963. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; Fisheries (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1963 (S.I. No. 187 of 1963). Signed on 8 October 1963. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
10. ^ Fisheries (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 1964 (S.I. No. 256 of 1964). Signed on 27 October 1964. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
11. ^ "Turnover Tax – Motion of No Confidence – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil) – Vol. 205 No. 4". Oireachtas. 30 October 1963. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
12. ^ "Turnover Tax – Motion of No Confidence (Amendment put) – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 30 October 1963. Retrieved 15 November 2020.; "Turnover Tax – Motion of No Confidence (Motion, as amended, put) – Dáil Éireann (17th Dáil)". Oireachtas. 30 October 1963. Retrieved 15 November 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Lemass cabinet (1961–1965)

* Taoiseach: Seán Lemass

* Frank Aiken
* Gerald Bartley
* Neil Blaney
* Kevin Boland
* Erskine H. Childers
* Charles Haughey
* Patrick Hillery
* Michael Hilliard
* Brian Lenihan
* Jack Lynch
* Seán MacEntee
* Mícheál Ó Móráin
* James Ryan
* Paddy Smith

* v
* t
* e

Governments of Ireland

Ministry of Dáil Éireann (1919–1922)|

* Brugha
* De Valera
* 1
* 2
* Griffith
* W. T. Cosgrave 1

Provisional Government of Ireland (1922)|

* Collins
* W. T. Cosgrave 1

Executive Council of the Irish Free State (1922–1937)|

* W. T. Cosgrave
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* De Valera
* 3
* 4
* 5

Government of Ireland (1937–present)|

* De Valera
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* Costello 1
* De Valera 10
* Costello 2
* De Valera 11
* Lemass
* 1
* 2
* 3
* Lynch
* 1
* 2
* L. Cosgrave
* Lynch 3
* Haughey 1
* FitzGerald 1
* Haughey 2
* FitzGerald 2
* Haughey
* 3
* 4
* Reynolds
* 1
* 2
* Bruton
* Ahern
* 1
* 2
* 3
* Cowen
* Kenny
* 1
* 2
* Varadkar 1
* Martin 1
* Varadkar 2
* Harris
* Martin 2

Formation, confidence and resignations|

* Dáil vote for Taoiseach
* Dáil Éireann confidence motions
* Resignation and sackings of ministers

*[no.]: number
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